Monday, February 02, 2009

Khatami In?

"Now after another prominent moderate, former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, appears to have backed out, Khatami will almost certainly run, says former aide Mohammed Ali Abtahi.

"'My prediction is that within a few days President Khatami will announce his candidacy,' Abtahi said in a phone interview. 'Khatami cannot afford not to run. He has to run now.'

"Khatami, 65, has repeatedly been quoted as saying that either he or Mousavi would run as a candidate for the reformists, as those within Iran's establishment who hope to broaden democracy and moderate the country's policies call themselves. News reports over the last few days have indicated that Mousavi might not run."

Khatami has previously said that he would only run if given assurances that he could carry out his agenda. If such assurances have been given, I'd love to hear about it.

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About Me

I am an Associate Professor in History at Shippensburg University, where I teach courses in Middle Eastern and world history. My two major research areas are the Middle East from the 7th through 10th centuries and the Persian Gulf from ancient times to the present. Nothing on this site represents an official position of Shippensburg University.